The wait for console players is over. Mega City Force, the retrofuturistic action roguelike from Undermed Games and publisher Ravenage Games, has officially deployed onto PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. For fans of twin-stick shooters, bullet-hell difficulty, and a thick layer of 80s and 90s action cinema nostalgia, this is not just a port—it is a proper expansion of territory that brings the neon-soaked, crime-ridden dystopia to a new legion of agents. The core question for anyone considering the download is straightforward: does this pixel-art brawler deliver the same punishing, rhythmic chaos that made its PC debut stand out, or does it get lost in translation on a controller?
Mega City Force Deploys onto Consoles Today: A New Front in the War on Crime
The streets of Mega City are not the kind of place you walk alone at night. Overrun by ruthless criminals, brutal gang bosses, and a megacorporation that treats the city as its personal fiefdom, the regular authorities have long since capitulated. In their place stands the Mega City Force—an incorruptible, heavily armed unit of agents who operate as the final line of defence. The premise is pure action-movie adrenaline, but what elevates Mega City Force beyond a simple nostalgia trip is how it weaponizes that aesthetic into a genuinely challenging roguelike loop. Players can choose to take on the underworld as a lone ranger or team up with a partner in local couch co-op, a feature that has been carefully optimised for the console experience.
The transition from PC to console is not always kind to games built on precision and split-second reflexes. However, Undreamed Games has tailored this release with console-specific features that go beyond a simple mapping of keyboard controls to a gamepad. The visual presentation has been adapted for big screens, the controls have been fine-tuned for thumbsticks, and the Nintendo Switch version offers handheld portability without sacrificing the frenetic pace of the action. For those who have yet to experience the game, this is the definitive moment to join the force.
What Is Mega City Force? A Roguelike That Puts You in the Boots of an 80s Action Hero
At its core, Mega City Force is a twin-stick shooter with a heavy emphasis on procedural generation, permadeath, and replayability. But that description undersells the personality baked into every pixel. The game is an unashamed love letter to the action heroes of the 80s and 90s—think Judge Dredd, RoboCop, and every VHS cover you ever stared at in a rental store. You are not a nameless soldier; you are an agent with a distinct identity, a unique loadout, and a reason to clean up the streets. The roguelike structure means that no two runs are identical: levels are procedurally generated, enemies spawn in unpredictable patterns, and the weapons and upgrades you find force you to adapt your strategy on the fly.
This genre hybrid works because the game understands that difficulty alone is not enough. It needs rhythm. And Mega City Force has a powerful sense of rhythm, driven by its synthwave soundtrack and its VHS-era pixel-art visuals. The challenge is not unfair; it is calibrated to push you to improve your positioning, your resource management, and your ability to read enemy telegraphs under pressure. That is the hallmark of a well-designed roguelike, and it is present from the moment you load into the first level.
The Agents of Mega City Force: A Roster Built for Different Playstyles
One of the first decisions you will make in Mega City Force is choosing your agent. This is not a cosmetic choice; it fundamentally alters how you engage with the city’s criminal underworld. The game launches with a diverse lineup, each agent tailored to a specific tactical approach:
- The Cyborg: A tanky killing machine equipped with three weapon slots, heavy armour, and an EMP-like magnetic pulse that can interrupt enemy attacks. This is the frontline brawler for players who want to absorb damage and dish out even more.
- The Scout: A nimble, stealth-focused agent who relies on optical camouflage and precision laser sights to land huge critical hits. This is a high-risk, high-reward playstyle that favours players with good positioning and patience.
- The Rookie: A classic all-rounder who comes with tactical dodge rolls and stun grenades. This is the entry point for new players, but it does not mean the Rookie is weak—mastering the dodge roll is essential for survival at higher difficulties.
As you progress through the game, you will unlock additional agents, legendary outfits inspired by pop culture icons, and specialised loadouts. This progression system gives you a reason to keep coming back, even after you have memorized enemy patterns and boss attack windows. The variety in playstyles also significantly increases the game’s longevity: what works for the Cyborg will not work for the Scout, and vice versa. This forces you to approach the same procedurally generated levels with a completely different mindset, which is exactly what a good roguelike should do.
The Arsenal and Replayability: How Mega City Force Keeps the Action Fresh
A roguelike lives or dies by its replayability, and Mega City Force has built a system that is both generous and demanding. The procedurally generated levels ensure that the layout of corridors, cover points, and enemy spawn locations change with every run. But the real depth comes from the massive array of weapons, special abilities, and shop upgrades you encounter. You are not just looking for a bigger gun; you are looking for synergies between your agent’s innate abilities and the items you collect.
Blast, punch, and dodge your way through the city’s darkest corners. The combat loop is fast and tactile: you will constantly be scanning the environment for ammo drops, health pickups, and the next threat. The game does not give you time to breathe, which is precisely what makes it so addictive. Once you clear the game, the difficulty tiers unlock, introducing new enemy types, tougher bosses, and more aggressive AI. This is not a game you finish once; it is a game you master over dozens of hours.
The Aesthetic and Audio: A Love Letter to the VHS Era
You cannot talk about Mega City Force without addressing its visual and audio identity. The pixel-art is gorgeous and explosive, capturing the grimy, neon-lit atmosphere of a dystopian cityscape. But the real star of the show is the soundtrack. As you defeat bosses and clear sectors, you can collect in-game audio cassettes that feature high-energy tracks from iconic synthwave artists. The lineup includes Timecop1983, Droid Bishop, Sublunar, Occams Laser, Nightcrawler, and Pixel Rebel.
For those unfamiliar with the genre, synthwave is not just background music; it is a core part of the game’s emotional architecture. The driving basslines and retro-futuristic synths sync up with the action in a way that makes every shootout feel like a scene from a lost 80s action film. Collecting these cassettes is not just a completionist checkbox; it is a rewarding gameplay loop that deepens your connection to the world. The music does more than set the mood—it sets the pace.
Console Optimisation: More Than a Straight Port
Console players have every right to be skeptical of PC-to-console ports, especially in a genre that demands precision. Undreamed Games has addressed this head-on. The console version of Mega City Force features big-screen visual adaptations that take full advantage of the higher resolutions and frame rates available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The Nintendo Switch version, meanwhile, has been optimised for handheld play, with adjustments to text size and UI elements to ensure readability on a smaller screen.
Gamepad controls have been fine-tuned to ensure that the twin-stick shooting feels responsive rather than floaty. The aim assist has been calibrated to be helpful without doing the work for you, and the button mapping has been streamlined to put the most essential actions—dodge, reload, swap weapons—within easy reach. Local couch co-op has also been simplified, allowing a second player to jump in without a lengthy setup process. This is a version built for the living room, not just a direct port of the PC build.
How Does Mega City Force Compare to Other Roguelikes?
The roguelike genre is crowded, and standing out requires more than just good gameplay. Mega City Force distinguishes itself through its thematic consistency and its sound design. Many roguelikes lean into fantasy, sci-fi, or abstract minimalism; this one doubles down on a specific cultural moment—the action cinema of the 80s and 90s—and never wavers. The result is a game that feels cohesive in a way that more generic shooters do not. It also benefits from a difficulty curve that is challenging but not punishing in a cheap way. The game teaches you through failure, which is the hallmark of the genre’s best entries.
Comparisons to titles like Enter the Gungeon or The Binding of Isaac are inevitable, but Mega City Force carves its own space by emphasizing character abilities and a more narrative-driven progression system. You are not just a random adventurer; you are an agent with a mission and a backstory that unfolds as you unlock new content. This gives the gameplay a sense of purpose that some roguelikes lack.
What Are the Console-Specific Features and Performance Expectations?
For players considering which platform to purchase on, the differences are worth noting. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions target a smooth 60 frames per second with minimal load times, making the most of the fast-paced combat. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions run at a stable 30 frames per second, which is still perfectly serviceable for a twin-stick shooter, though the action feels noticeably snappier on the newer hardware. The Nintendo Switch version runs at 30 frames per second in both docked and handheld modes, with a slight reduction in resolution in handheld to maintain performance. The trade-off is negligible given the portability.
Local co-op is available across all platforms, and the game supports split-screen play without a significant drop in performance. For players who want to share the experience with a friend, this is a major selling point. The game also includes full controller rebinding options, so players who prefer a specific layout can customize their experience.
Answering the Call: Where to Buy and What to Expect Next
The law will make crime bleed. Mega City Force is available now on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, and Nintendo eShop. This is not a limited-time release or an early access title; it is the full, finished product that has been refined based on PC player feedback. The console launch represents a new chapter for the game, and it raises an interesting question about the future of retrofuturistic roguelikes: can the genre sustain itself on nostalgia alone, or does it need to evolve? Mega City Force makes a strong case that the answer lies in execution. The formula is well-worn, but when it is executed with this level of polish, passion, and respect for its influences, it feels anything but tired.
What comes next for Undreamed Games and Ravenage Games remains to be seen, but the console deployment is a clear signal that they believe in the longevity of this title. For players who have been waiting for a twin-stick shooter that respects their intelligence and reflexes, the wait is over. Grab your aviators, load up your pulse rifle, and prime your synthwave playlist. The streets of Mega City are waiting, and they do not patrol themselves.
